Warriors’ SF update: San Francisco, small forwards, and more

Presuming the Warriors don’t get jumped in the May 30 lottery and are able to keep their own first-round pick (if it’s top-7 they keep it), there are strong indications that they’re logically eyeing a big upgrade at small forward.

I think that’s a natural product of the draft’s depth at SF and the basketball operation staff’s belief that SF is the GSW’s biggest positional need, if they can get a true play-maker and/or defensive force.

How important is a very good two-way SF?

Think of what Metta World Peace added to the Lakers in Game 7 over the weekend… or Manu Ginobili and James Harden give to the Spurs and Thunder every game.

Or what Andre Iguodala does for the 76ers (maybe he’s doing too much in the playoffs for the Warriors’ plans, since Iguodala was an early potential trade target–and is probably not obtainable now).

Obviously, the Warriors could use other things beyond a SF–you don’t miss the playoffs five straight years without holes throughout the roster, including true back-ups at center and power forward and depth at point guard.

But, if the Warriors are ever close to fully healthy, they go into 2012-’13 with:

-A big, two-way center (Andrew Bogut, if healthy);

-A high-workload power forward they love (David Lee);

-A point guard with a tremendous shooting touch (Steph Curry, if healthy);

-And a big, promising shooting guard they love (Klay Thompson).

That leaves small forward–it was pretty obvious throughout the season, and it’s becoming clearer now that Dorell Wright just isn’t the preferred choice heading into 2012-’13 (his last contracted year).

And it leaves the GSWs a little questionable in the perimeter defense and athletic ability across the board.

A good young two-way SF could help in all those areas. They don’t necessarily need a guy firing 3s, because they have Curry and Thompson.

They possibly need a perimeter player who can penetrate, pass, run, rebound and most of all guard the opponents’ best wing player.

Why isn’t Wright the guy? Wright just isn’t a play-maker on offense and his defense hasn’t been sterling, especially last year.

Maybe it’s more than that, maybe not, but I’ve heard that the coaching staff is definitely behind the idea of finding a new starter at that spot.

Meanwhile, back-up SF Brandon Rush is a restricted free agent and might be best suited to be a back-up, anyway.

And Dominic McGuire, an unrestricted free agent, is not viewed as a starter–he’s a great defender and rebounder at any spot, great team guy, but not a play-maker.

That means, the GSWs, if they keep their own pick, would either draft the best SF available in the top-7 or see if they can trade the pick for an established young veteran.

I’ve already mentioned that Iguodala would be almost idea, but at this point, with Philly in the second round, I don’t know if he’s going to be moved.

One other top possibility seems out of the GSW’s reach: Portland’s Nic Batum.

And I’m not sure Lamar Odom and J.R. Smith are quite what the Warriors need or are seeking.

M & R cite the Pier 30-32 location (nice picture) as the most likely to be discussed.

But it still seems likely that the Warriors have some negotiating with the Giants about the site adjacent to AT&T Park, involving Pier 50.

The GSWs can get out of their Oakland lease starting with the 2017-’18 season, which is just a little over five years from now.

As Joe Lacob suggested to me several weeks ago, you can just count backwards from there to figure out a timetable for a hard decision on a new arena site.

If it’s a new development site (like Piers 30-32), that’d have to be circled and declared probably at some point before 2013.

If it’s in conjunction with an organization (like the Giants) that already has development rights to much of the potential property (like the parking lot adjacent to AT&T Park and Pier 50), then I’d think early-2013 would be the right deadline for an announced go-ahead.

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I hope Kentucky’s Jones isn’t on W’s radar. He’s more of a tweener. Like a soft-version of Houston’s Patrick Patterson. He doesn’t look like to have the quickness to guard NBA 3s. Definitely not a 2-way player. Shoot too many 3s. Light rebounder. Pretty much the kind of W’s from a few years ago.

If we stand at 7 a trade would be preferred and if AI plays himself out of the picture maybe Rudy Gay? Luol Deng? Danny Granger (even though he really only plays for himself) or short term caron butler (this team could use some tough juice) Gay, Granger and AI will be tough just from a money perspective though…any value our pick(s) carries will be dragged a bit by the contract(s) that will have to accompany it (Biedrins Jefferson and Dorrell Wright are the only signed up for real money and Wright is only $4 mil…) to match a $10-$14 mil contract…

Russell Cross

Don’t much like Harrison Barnes. Not a great defender and seems more like a guy who knew how to score and reaped the benefits of UNC’s system and surrounding talent.

Granger? They should have drafted him instead they took Ike Diogu!

Martina

Harrison Barnes seems really soft and very overrated. Besides what does Barnes have (except for 2 inches more height) that Klay Thompson doesn’t have?

Tim: I agree that imn a lineup of Curry, Thompson, Lee and Bogut, what GSW needs most from the SF spot is defense, rebounding and rim rattling. You dismiss the viablity of Dom McGuire at SF, but I think he porvisd exactly what GSW needs at that position.

We have several passable SFs; but currently, Bogut has no backup at center and his health is still a concern. Even if Leonard is a reach at 7, the need at center is so great that GSW should not pass him up.

Unless there is another center whom the FO prefers, and who will be available with the 30th pick. The FO’s good draft, trade and FA signings last summer give me some confidence in their ablity to know what they need and find the player(s) who meet the need.

old stater fan

Niner has got it right. Just ask Mr. Clutch. I don’t think that B Rush is too far away from being that SF they desire. We know he can shoot, but his shot blocking, rebounding and D was a nice surprise.

Kommon Senze

MKG would be great. If not him, I’d be looking at Iguodala.

Barnes concerns me with his inability to drive against college competition. That doesn’t bode well for his transition to the pros. The second coming of Marvin Williams is what I see.

As for Jones, he reminds me a lot of Al Harrington and Tim Thomas (two classic tweeners). He’s athletic, but not athletic enough to be able to keep up with the true SF, and he’s big, but not big enough to really bang with the true PF. If the team wants a younger Al Harrington, great. It very well might be an improvement over Wright, but not a game changing pickup.

jjbiggs

Martina – what does Barnes have that Klay doesn’t have? Are you serious? Barnes was a top 2 prospect out of HS. He’s bigger, longer, and much stronger than Klay. His defense is very good. The one part of his game that is suspect is his playmaking & and ability to create his own shot. I think he’ll surprise a lot of people and be very good in the NBA, especially if he drops to the #7 spot. I’m thinking a Luol Deng type. A team player that plays smart, plays hard, and plays defense. Probably not as efficient, but solid all-around.

SoCalWarrior

Landry Fields is a SG, as is Ginobli, as is Harden. A SF needs to be bigger, longer and more athletic. Consider who would guard Kevin Durant or Lamar Odom.

CCH

How about Wilson Chandler? Seems obtainable and has a good contract.

Kommon Senze

@jjbiggs

I would think Barnes is better than Klay, but being the #2 prospect out of college doesn’t always mean he remains the #2 prospect today. Barnes is a decent scorer, and perhaps his lack of handle and playmaking ability are overstated, but given that he was very streaky as a shooter (only 36% on college 3’s this past year), and would disappear rather than take over during stretches, I think the hype that he had coming out of HS should be put by the wayside. He’s not that player people thought he might be.

Klay Thompson, at least, is pretty well established as a shooter, and his collegiate shooting has clearly translated to the pros. In some ways, the fact that he has a go-to skill at the NBA level is comforting to know, because there are numerous cases of really good athletes who can’t translate to the pros because they don’t have a singular skill.

I think Barnes clearly has scoring ability, and I don’t think he’ll be a bust. I don’t think he’s quite a ‘star’ in the making, either. Maybe he’ll develop those other skills to go along with his strong character and good work ethic. I wouldn’t say he’s a bad option at #7, but if there was a shot to trade the pick for a player like Iguodala, I’d consider it strongly, because I do think Igoudala’s skill set is a really nice fit for the projected roster next year.

Phil green

Take the risk on perry jones III and then take Jeff taylor from vandy with the other first rd pick. biggest weakness becomes strength. Then get a couple big stiffs in round 2 and maybe get lucky.

al oha

Hoping for the ping pong balls to fly lucky for the Warriors and get them into the top 3 picks. Or that there really is a Stern Conspiracy and he has a Ownership Interest in the W’s. MKG would be great added to this Team.

A trade involving the other Picks and AB would relieve Cap pressure and help them sign a FA.

I would really like to see Jason Kidd to go along with draftee, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, added to this roster. 2 Kidds and a Father (MJ), and we be talking Playoffs.

WillisReed

I am so confident the Dubs are going to lose their pick, I refuse to think about potential 1st rounders until May 30th passes.

lime

I thought Lamar Odom was a foregone conclusion since one of the assistant coaches was a mentor of his? Nothing like the Kardashian sisters sitting courtside to usher in a new SF arena!!!

Jonathan

Honestly, if there’s a situation where you can get some value (a future pick, a backup center, whatever) out of trading back into the mid-to-late teens I don’t think Moe Harkless is terribly different from the other second-tier SF candidates like P Jones, T Jones and Barnes.

It seems like a pick ’em between the rest of the non-MKG small forwards. All have their warts and developmental questions, and I think you waste a premium at 7 picking one when two or even three will probably be available between, say, 12-20.

(and I’d maybe even lump Quincy Miller in there with them. But that might be because I’m ambivalent about Barnes and T Jones and really down on P Jones)

I think ultimately we all cross our fingers and hope we land in a spot to draft Kidd-Gilchrist, and if that doesn’t work out, hope the front office has done some good scout work and can get creative. I think the most underwhelming scenario would be a straight use of pick No. 7, given what the likely outcomes seem to be. (think Ekpe Udoh in lieu of DeMarcus Cousins, or Patrick O’Bryant in lieu of Rudy Gay, etc. etc.)

In college Barnes seemed to be spending more time worrying about his “brand” then his game…if he is the pick I’d rather see them trade it…

Ken

Hopefully, Tim will NOT do an interview with West BEFORE the Draft – although I think it is likely that West is too smart to show all his cards in print…. lol.

Kommon Senze

@Trapped

I don’t think that’s an accurate reflection of Barnes at all. He’s not a kid who seemed overly concerned with his image (he wouldn’t have returned to UNC if he was), and, by all accounts, he’s a good kid with a good sense of priorities. He didn’t complain at all about how he was used, and was described as a solid teammate.

The problem with Barnes, imo, is simply that he was way over-hyped.. by the media, not by himself or anyone really directly associated with him. He was described by one publication as the ‘most complete player since Kobe Bryant’ and ‘a more versatile version of Kevin Durant.’ Tim K even tried to use Durant as his basis of comparison a year ago, if I’m not mistaken.

Now, it’s possible that Williams system is slightly underplaying his actual ability, but I tend to think that what we’ve seen is closer to the truth than the gigantic expectations that were laid upon him coming into college. At #7, if no trade were available and no clear better player were available, I’d certainly consider picking him. He’s still young and could certainly develop more at the NBA level. I just think expectations should be tempered. He may not be an immediate upgrade; it might take him half a season to get into the groove, and maybe a couple years before he hits his full potential.

Doug

That was quite an entertaining read.

Our Team

No way the Warriors trade down if they get the 7th pick. You don’t do that in bball if you know what you’re doing. How many picks do they need in this draft anyway? I also doubt they trade #7 for an established 3. I think the Ws will draft the best 3, 4 or 5 available with their first pick and they’d love to get a 4 or 5 they value there.

PhillyJ

only TK can write these posts that make me come back and read. Good job, keep it up!

Russell Cross

Barnes was no 2 prospect out of high school playing in Iowa. Granted he played better caliber competition in AAU, but Iowa ain’t LA, Chicago, Houston or NY high scool competetion. I agree with Kommon on this one…

gman

If we are not in the top tier, top three picks, of any draft and you get a solid two way player that is a starter level for a 10 year career you do not complain. When you are out of the top three its a crap shoot where hind sight is 20-20. Mike Dunleavy career is 12 pts 4.6 reb and 2.4 asst. it sucks at #3 but at number 7 easier to swallow (hind sight 20-20 so don’t say but…..was taken after). Joe Smith 10.9 pts and 6.4 reb over a 15 year career not bad if he was number 7 and not number 1 again hind sight is 20-20 “but—–was taken before—- and he’s a hall of famer! not when he was 17 and comming out of HS he wasn’t! There will all ways be hits and misses even in this “stacked” draft. Stacked does not mean 10 hall of famers it means one allstar and a bunch of solid starters. There will be two or three busts likeThabeet is, infact there migh be a Thabeet clone in this one too.

That Man

Ginobli and Harden are SG’s, not really SF’s. But at the end of the day, Tomato, tomahto, they are wings.
Warriors need players who can rebound and defend. The scoring will be there. I like McGuire. More Bigs! A team can never have enough high energy rebounding Bigs.

sarchasmic

I know this year’s draft is supposed to be thin on PG’s, but why not position whatever 1st rounder the Warriors end up with for a good young (healthy) floor general, then trade Curry for a pick or a SF?

Bogut and Curry are both excuses waiting to happen. Cut down the injury risk and stabilize the chances for long-term success. PG is a far easier position to replenish in the draft than C is, after all.

GSWLoco

I like that Meyers Leonard is a good passer. If true could be a sign that the warriors want to run a passing office (Adelman’s Kings Princeton offense) and they want a backup that can pass from high or low post.

Martina

I’d be very pleased if we could trade our pick – if it’s a #6 or #7 – for an established veteran SF or PF, like Igoudala, Paul Millsap, or Batum.

If we really wanted to gamble on a trade, we could ship Curry and our #1 to Charlotte for Kemba Walker and their #1 (assuming that their #1 is better than ours).

Harp’s Dubs

I hate Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah for getting hurt, so the Bulls could lose to Philly. Now everyone’s seeing how valuable Igoudala is. Damn the Hawks for having a hurt Josh Smith and Al Horford, or Boston would have maybe lost and Rondo’s value wouldn’t be sky high.
Bottom line is that Curry’s health has made him a serious liability. If we get a top 3 pick, it might be enough to convince Boston to part with Rondo if we ship over that pick, Dorell Wright, Ekpe’s trade exception and Curry. Hell, we might get Boston’s pick out of that deal.
If so, we use their pick and our pick (via San Antonio) together to move up and grab Meyers Leonard.
Trade our two second rounders to get Kevin Jones from West Virginia.
Use McGuire and Jefferson as our small forward combo.
PG – Rondo, Jenkins
SG – Thompson, Rush
SF – McGuire, Jefferson, Chris Wright
PF – Lee, Tyler, Jones
C – Bogut, Leonard, Biedrins

Target Damian Lillard or Kendall Marshall in the draft (may want to trade down cuz 7 will be too high for Marshall and maybe even Lillard)

I wasnt crazy about the Bogut deal, but pair him next to Gasol, even at the cost of losing Curry, and thats a true force in the middle.

We get out of Lee’s contract, build around Thompson, Gasol, and Bogut, have defensive singmen in Artest and Rush and figure out point guard later

Go Warriors

Take Best Available, we have Jefferson, Wright, McGuirre and Rush, that is pretty solid at the 2/3 position. We need a big or a pg backup in case Curry or Bogut’s durability acts up. When you have two starters with that kind of history, you don’t go after a position you already run 4 deep (SF).